“I live my life in growing orbits… I am circling around God… And I still don't know if I am a falcon, or a storm, or a great song.” –Rainer Maria Rilke, poet (1875-1926)
Emerging Spirituality
The following groups are open to Emmanuel's members as well as others from the community. We come together in various ways—with open minds and loving hearts—to experience and study different ancient and emerging Spiritual beliefs.
Four Winds Center for Spiritual Ecology
“The Earth is our Mother, we must take care of Her… Hey yana ho yana hey yan yan… Her Sacred ground we walk upon with every step we take…” –Hopi Chant
Four Winds Center for Spiritual Ecology is a mission group of Emmanuel Lutheran Church. We are creation-centered and honor the Spirit in all things, and the wisdom in all spiritual traditions. We respond to the present crisis in our culture with passion for ecological healing and justice, renewal of our mystical and feminine traditions, celebration of the new scientific story of the universe, and the creativity of the arts. In all these things we find hope for the divine healing of the human soul and all creation. More information can be found online in the Four Winds Center for Spiritual Ecology.
The members of Four Winds meet one Friday a month at 6:00 p.m., usually in a member's home. The actual week varies. If you are interested in becoming a member or joining the e-mail list, call the church office, 815-963-4815, or e-mail the Four Winds Coordinator.
Join the e-mail list by checking the Four Winds boxthrough our website.
All are welcome to attend Four Winds events and study groups, which can be found online on the Community Calendar, or by calling the church office, 815-963-4815.
Mishkan
Mishkan is a Sacred chant group whose repertoire includes devotional chants from several different Spirituality because they are Love songs to God that transcend tradition. When they began performing they knew of no other interfaith chant group. Emmanuel Mishkan has five members: Ken, Mark, Terri, Sally, and Jim.
They do not perform during the church service. Instead they perform at gatherings for the community.
These are the chants that Mishkan performed at a 9/11 memorial service at Beloit College:
- Hebrew
- Shema Yisrael, Adonai eloheinu Adonai ehad. (Hear O Israel, the Lord our God is one God.)
- Arabic
- Yarabba ssalami amter alayana ssalam. Yarabba ssalami im la qulubana ssalam. (O God, rain down peace on us, fill our hearts with peace. O God, rain down peace on us, fill our land with peace.)
- Latin
- Ubi caritas et amor. Ubi caritas, Deus ibi est. (Live in charity and steadfast love. Live in charity, God dwells in you.)
If you are interested in having Mishkan perform at an event, call the church office, 815-963-4815, or email the Mishkan Leader.
Spiritual Journeys
“We study the stories of different cultures because we believe that fear, which comes from misunderstandings, breeds hatred and, in turn, war; but if each of us knows the others’ stories then, in these small ways, the misunderstandings can be resolved and we can bring an end to war.” –member of Spiritual Journeys
Spiritual Journeys is both a Book Club and a Summer Film Series. Spiritual Journeys members come together to discuss books and films that delve into the different theological and philosophical perspectives of cultures from around the world. The Spiritual Journeys Book Club meets weekly from September through May. During the summer months the Spiritual Journeys Film Series meets twice a month from June through August. To see what book we're reading please visit our Community calendar.
If you're interested in finding out more, call the church office, 815-963-4815, or e-mail the Spiritual Journeys Coordinator.